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#E46 m3 subframe issue production years crackNor did the NSR plate cover the hairline crack on this car (outlined in red): Up until then we were using reinforcement plates from the USA (like everyone else had to).Īs you can see they didn’t cover or contain the damage on this M3: #E46 m3 subframe issue production years manualOne day we were faced with repairing this 2002 M3 manual coupe with 87,000 miles The kit consists of 8 individual plates, tailored to specific locations on the E46’s chassis, along with a set of comprehensive fitting instructions. #E46 m3 subframe issue production years seriesThe kit is universal to the entire E46 BMW 3 Series model range regardless of body type, transmission or engine size / type.ġ00% positive with great reviews from customers and other workshops using our precision made reinforcement plate kit from all over the world. The E46 Rear Subframe Reinforcement kit has been designed to provide the best repair and reinforcement option available on the market, regardless of crack damage, age, mileage, service history or modifications made. ![]() Our engineers has developed a kit to offer a cost effective long term solution to the well-documented problem of floor cracking which the BMW E46 series suffers. With the subframe out of the car there are quite a few additional items that can or should be replaced.NOW WIDELY REGARDED AS THE WORLD’S BEST E46 SUBFRAME REINFORCEMENT PLATE KIT NEW. Access to the top of the floor in the rear trunk is also required. It is also recommended, but not required, to remove the gas tank. Installation requires the removal of the exhaust, rear suspension, subframe, and differential. And any future crash repairs or chassis work in this area will be more difficult with the foam. Also, most fabricators, welders, and body shops dislike the structural foam because it makes welding and metal repairs more difficult and dangerous (the vapors from burning structural foam is hazardous). You could find yourself making welding repairs even after the foam has been applied. But it doesn't address pre-existing cracks or the weak and incomplete spot welds at the top of the subframe mount. It's derived from aircraft construction so it's very strong, light weight, durable, and relatively easy to apply. There's nothing really wrong with the foam method. When the foam is fully hardened it adds strength between the sheetmetal layers and prevents them from flexing. Urethane or solid aluminum mounts are strongly recommended, even on street cars, as they do not allow the subframe to flex.īMW's official fix was to inject structural foam between the two layers. Worn and spongy rubber subframe mounts contribute to additional chassis flex. Eventually entire sections of the rear floor can rip away. #E46 m3 subframe issue production years crackedContinuing to drive with a cracked floor only worsens the problem and cracks spread. Since there is this gap between the layers, with tremendous torsional load at these points, the bottom layer twists and deforms and the spot welds eventually pop and fail. BMW tried to eliminate flexing of the floor by bracing the front mounts but this only transferred the stress to another point. If the two sheetmetal layers were joined or braced together this problem may never have developed in the first place. The rear subframe mount gussets (where the subframe is bolted to) are tack welded to the bottom layer. The rear floor of the E46 is actually two sheets of steel with a gap between them. However, every E46 on the road potentially needs rear floor repair and reinforcement and it's a absolute must-do for any track or race car project. BMW even has an official fix for non-damaged cars. Unlike the E36 M3, the E46 models did not receive sheetmetal reinforcements from the factory and subframe and floor failures continued to be a problem well into the E46 production. Rear subframe and floor failures are quite common on the E36 and E46 models.
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